Caspian Journal of Veterinary Sciences

Caspian Journal of Veterinary Sciences

A survey on the causes of egg rejection and hatchability analysis in a hatchery in Amol, Mazandaran province

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Amol University of Special Modern Technologies, Amol, Iran.
Abstract
Studying the indicators associated with eggs sent to hatcheries, as well as the outcomes of the incubation process, is crucial for producing high-quality day-old chicks and, ultimately, desirable broilers. In this six-month study, eggs delivered to a hatchery in Amol, Iran, were examined to identify various reasons for egg rejection. Additionally, unhatched eggs were analyzed at the end of the incubation period to determine the causes of hatch failure. Out of 319,110 eggs submitted to the hatchery, 4,926 were rejected. Among the reasons for rejection, cracked shells accounted for the highest proportion (29.4%), followed by malformed and oversized eggs. A significant difference was observed in the mean percentage of rejected eggs across different breeder age groups. The lowest rejection rate occurred in the 31-40-week age group, while the highest was recorded in breeders older than 51 weeks. Furthermore, hatch residue analysis conducted at the end of the incubation period revealed that infertility was the most prevalent cause of hatch failure. According to the findings, the season can influence the overall hatchability rate and egg hatchability was higher in the spring compared to the summer.
Keywords
Subjects

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Volume 2, Issue 2
December 2025
Pages 27-31

  • Receive Date 27 July 2025
  • Revise Date 14 August 2025
  • Accept Date 14 August 2025